Colin – Despondent

Although Colin hadn't expected Penelope to respond quickly, he started pacing back and forth the second he had given the footman his letter to deliver. This was maddening.

"For goodness sake Colin. You need to give her at least five minutes to read it." Eloise didn't even raise her eyes from the book she was reading. Just lately his mere presence seemed to annoy her.

"If she reads it at all." Colin had to face the fact that it would be a possibility. Not that he could imagine what it was like to be in her position, but he wasn't certain if their roles were switched that he wouldn't simply toss the letter in the nearest fire.

"She will read it." Eloise was certain of it. What she wasn't so sure of was what the response would be. After being so confident that she knew everything about Penelope, she now wondered if she knew anything about her at all. There had been so many clues that Penelope was Lady Whistledown and she had overlooked most of them.

"Mr Bridgerton." Their Butler entered the room. "A letter was left for you." He waited a moment after handing it over as if expecting to be asked for further information, before turning and leaving the room when no request came.

"That was quick." Eloise marked her page and put her book aside. "It is from Penelope I take it." She watched as Colin read the letter and the colour drain from his face. "What did she say?" She doubted Penelope would have said anything cruel but anything was possible.

Mr Bridgerton. No Dear Colin.

I appreciate your apology, however there is no need. I had not asked you to court me, nor do I believe I indicated that I was under the impression that you were courting me. You made me no promises and my family and myself are not your responsibly.

Yours truly

Penelope Featherington

It was very formal and lacked the warmth of her previous letters. He handed the letter to Eloise to read. There was nothing in the letter that he did not wish his Sister to see.

"Perhaps she just requires some space and time." She handed back the letter. "Do not give up Brother. Continue writing and Pen will come around." She had to admit that the letter was so unlike Penelope.

"I told her I would always look after her El. That she was special to me and I meant it." Colin ran his hands over his face. "And then on the same evening I'm mocking her to save face with people whose opinions do not matter."

"Why is it do you think, that other's opinions of us matter so much?" Eloise sighed. "We make ourselves miserable to gain favourable opinions of others."

Colin chuckled. "You are right. When did you become so smart?"

"I have always been smart give or take a few minor lapses in judgement. Keep writing to Penelope Brother. You have until next season to prove that it was a moment of idiocy. Next season there will be plenty of balls which Pen won't be able to avoid you at. After all there is only so many times she can claim she isn't feeling well before her Mama calls for the Doctor."

Nodding Colin had to admit this was probably the best course of action. How annoying that the idea had come from Eloise. "The truly tragic part of this is that when I returned from Greece to find Pen here, my first thought was how happy I was to see her followed by how she seemed to belong here."

He hadn't really been surprised to see her looking so at home in his family's home. And yet she looked so out of place in her own. Almost as though she was uncomfortable in her own skin, yet this was not something she felt in his home surrounded by his rambunctious family. His mother in particular had always gone out of her way to make Penelope feel welcome.

"But did you sense her belonging here as a sisterly type or as something more." Eloise recalled how excited Penelope had been at Colin's return. She was certain that Penelope did not view Colin as the Brother she never had. Now that she thought of it, Penelope had always been so enamoured with Colin. It was a little sickening from a sister's point of view.

"I have never seen Pen as a sister. A friend certainly but never a sister. I have enough trouble with the four sisters I already have." He ducked as Eloise threw a cushion at him. "I realised when she wanted nothing to do with me how empty my life would be without her. How constant she has been in my life."

Eloise managed a small smile. "Then you simply must persevere Brother."

Persevere he would as long as it meant Penelope would look at him like her own personal hero as she had a couple of evenings ago. Her knight in shining armour every time Cressida Cowper had been cruel to her. Though there was not going to be anything simple about this.